Noah kept carrying Lys across the wilderness, moving farther and farther from the city's outskirts.
Above them, the three Legendary Spirits—Aqua, Gaia, and Fire—followed relentlessly, circling like colossal predators refusing to lose sight of their prize.
Finally, Noah reached a jagged mountain ridge—a narrow path ending at the edge of a steep cliff.
There, he stopped.
Breath steady, he gently set Lys down on the rocky ground—but kept her close, one hand still ready.
"Forgive me for this," Noah said quietly, eyes sharp. "But you have to trust me."
Without another word, he drew Kagetsume.
The steel whispered free of its sheath—cold, flawless.
Raising the blade, Noah brought the katana's edge to hover mere millimeters from Lys's throat—close enough that she could feel the faint bite of its presence.
Above, the Spirits froze.
The colossal creatures halted mid-flight—massive forms shimmering with elemental force, now locked in place, watching with something close to horror and confusion.
Their contractor—threatened.
Noah's voice was calm, almost amused.
"Good… now that we're a bit calmer—Lys, would you ask them to match our size? Bring themselves down to our level."
Lys's breath trembled—fear rising in her chest.
'Why? After helping me... why would he put a blade to my throat?'
But then—his earlier words echoed in her mind:
'You have to trust me.'
She swallowed hard.
And chose to trust him.
Turning toward the Spirits, voice shaking, she spoke:
"If you don't want anything to happen to me… do everything he says. Please."
She pressed her hands together, pleading.
A tense silence followed.
Then—one by one, the Spirits began to shrink:
First, the towering Gaia stag—its form condensed, antlers folding elegantly as its body shrank to a large elk's size, still radiating quiet power.
Second, the shimmering mass of Aqua—the crystalline whale spiraling downward, flowing into a more compact, serpentine form, water and ice swirling around a shape no larger than a large river serpent.
Third came the Fire Spirit—the obsidian dragon's molten wings folding inward as its body condensed into a sleek drake, embers dancing around it with every breath.
On Noah's face, a sinister smile slowly spread.
A subtle, chilling energy filled the air.
The Legendary Spirits—creatures that knew no fear—felt it.
An involuntary shiver passed through them.
That… was rare.
Noah's voice remained soft—deadly.
"Good… now we can begin."
And still—he kept Kagetsume's blade poised at Lys's throat.
Without that threat, he knew the Spirits might attempt to act.
This was the only leverage they respected.
Noah kept the edge of Kagetsume steady—mere millimeters from Lys's pale throat.
The three Legendary Spirits, now at their smaller forms, hovered close—tense, watchful, visibly disturbed by the image before them.
Noah's voice came cool and deliberate.
"Tell them," he said softly. "Why they've been fighting over you."
Lys closed her eyes.
She breathed in—steadying herself.
Even now, her innate connection to Spirits remained strong.
Noah knew it well—she was the greatest Spiritualist in the entire game world. One of a kind.
And this scene only proved it.
Moments passed.
Finally, she opened her eyes again—blue-grey shimmering faintly.
"They've told me," she said quietly.
"They want to form a single contract with me. All three of them."
Noah smirked. "I see. Makes sense. Everyone wants to be contracted to you, Lys."
At the words, a faint blush rose on her cheeks.
She glanced away—eyes softening, face reddening slightly.
But she wasn't ready for what came next.
"Alright," Noah said casually. "Now tell them this—tell them that you're mine. And mine alone."
Lys's brain short-circuited.
Her breath caught—face turning scarlet, her entire body tensing.
She blinked fast—mouth slightly open—completely frozen.
As if her thoughts had simply… stopped.
Noah frowned slightly, tilting his head.
"Lys?" he asked. "Hey, Lys—you still with me?"
No response.
"...Lys?"
He leaned slightly closer.
"Oi—Lys."
Finally—after what felt like an eternity—her voice came out in a small, flustered whisper.
"Eh? Y-yes… I'm here. What did you say, Noah?"
Noah cleared his throat.
"Right. Um—you need to tell the Spirits… that you're mine."
A beat.
Then—
"...Okay…" Lys whispered faintly, cheeks burning.
She closed her eyes again—mana flickering softly around her.
A pulse of thought—her message sent.
The reaction was immediate.
The three Spirits recoiled slightly—visible shock rippling through them.
Their eyes flared with confusion, disbelief.
How could such a unique Spiritualist willingly claim to belong to a mere human?
Tension sparked through the air. The Spirits seemed almost restless—agitated, shifting in place.
Lys opened her eyes slowly.
"They… they say they don't agree," she whispered.
"They're upset. They don't like this."
Noah's grin turned sharper.
He found it almost amusing.
"Really?" he said softly—leaning the katana just a fraction closer to her skin.
"Careful, now," he warned them aloud.
"As I said—she's mine. Isn't that right, Lys?"
Lys, too flustered to speak, managed a small nod—nodding quickly, eyes shut, face crimson.
The Legendary Spirits looked utterly stunned.
What had begun as a battle… now felt like a hopeless charade.
For a few long moments, they hovered, still unwilling to believe it.
But as they saw Lys nod again—submission clear—they began to falter.
One after another—their forms flickered.
With low, mournful hums, the Legendary Spirits finally began to withdraw—their hopes shattered.
Their majestic forms rose slowly into the sky—energy dispersing—.
Just as the Legendary Spirits began to retreat, Noah's voice came sharp and quick.
"Lys—tell them to stay."
Eyes wide, Lys closed her eyes once more—mana flaring faintly.
Her voice was soft.
"I've asked them… they'll stay."
One by one, the Spirits halted mid-withdrawal—hovering at a safe distance, forms shimmering in the air.
Noah nodded, tone calm.
"Good. Now—tell them this: I want to negotiate."
Lys blinked. "Negotiate? Alright…"
She transmitted the message.
The Spirits pulsed faintly, their attention sharpening.
"They say they're listening," Lys whispered.
Noah smirked.
"Perfect. Now tell them this: the great and benevolent Noah is willing to share a part of Lys—so they may form a unique contract with the greatest Spiritualist of the last few centuries."
"But—on my conditions."
Lys flushed again, but nodded slowly—relaying the words with a deep breath.
Noah continued, voice amused.
"First: absolute loyalty to your contractor. You will obey every word of your contractor—to the letter."
Lys repeated this, face reddening further.
"Second," Noah added smoothly.
"You will also answer requests from your father—meaning, me."
Lys's mind stuttered.
'Mama and papa? We'll be… parents together already?'
Her face turned a deeper shade of crimson—barely managing to keep her voice steady as she passed the message.
The Spirits shimmered—there was a pause.
"Third," Noah said with a sly grin.
"Whoever signs first… will have more freedom than the others."
Another ripple of energy passed between the Spirits.
Gaia moved first.
The majestic stag's form pulsed with emerald light—contract accepted.
Lys gasped softly. "Gaia has accepted."
Moments later, Aqua followed—a deep hum resonating as the crystalline serpent bowed in the air.
"Aqua too," Lys whispered.
Only the Fire Spirit remained—its molten gaze shifting, body tense with indecision.
Lys glanced at Noah.
"Fire… is hesitating. It's not sure whether to form the contract or not…"
Noah shrugged lightly, voice deliberately casual.
"That's a shame, really. Two of its rivals have already signed with the best Spiritualist of this era."
"But if it chooses not to… well, it'll just have to find someone else."
Lys, cheeks still burning, translated his words.
Noah leaned casually on Kagetsume, smirking faintly.
"Nothing more to be done—unless it changes its mind."
The air was thick with tension.
The Fire Spirit still hovered in place, molten eyes narrowing, flames rippling across its sleek form.
But then—Gaia and Aqua began to pulse softly—deep, resonant hums echoing through the clearing.
Their tones were unmistakable.
Laughter.
They were laughing at the Fire Spirit.
Mocking.
You were the strongest, weren't you?
Now look at you—so stubborn. So alone.
The Fire Spirit's flames flickered in agitation—then, reluctantly, its light dimmed.
With a frustrated growl, it finally pulsed—accepting the contract.
A dark smile curled across Noah's lips.
"Good," he said softly. "Now, Lys—tell them this."
Lys, still red in the face, nodded quickly—relaying his words as he spoke.
"You won't rest," Noah said evenly, "until you've repaired all the damage you caused to the academy."
Gaia and Aqua responded immediately—willing. They would comply.
Lys translated: "Gaia and Aqua agreed. Fire… doesn't want to lower itself to your level."
Noah chuckled darkly.
"I see."
He took a step forward, voice low.
"Point two of the contract," he said. "Since I am your father now…"
He smiled wider.
"I hold the same authority as your mother."
As he spoke, a collar of shimmering mana materialized around the Fire Spirit's neck—faintly glowing, crackling with latent energy.
The Spirit recoiled—snarling—trying to tear it off.
But no matter how it twisted or burned, the collar held firm.
Noah's eyes gleamed.
"Hehehe… let's see if this helps you change your mind."
With a faint gesture, he triggered the enchantment.
The collar sparked violently—sharp bursts of electric mana coursing through the Fire Spirit's body.
The Spirit writhed, snarling in pain, flames flaring chaotically.
Noah watched calmly.
"Still sure you don't want to help?" he asked casually.
Through gritted teeth, the Fire Spirit lifted one trembling claw—and flipped him off.
Noah sighed.
"Ahhh…"
He exhaled slowly.
"You really asked for this, little one."
He gestured again—another harsh pulse of electric mana surged through the collar.
Finally, the Fire Spirit stilled—energy drained, body slumping slightly in the air.
Satisfied, Noah finally lowered Kagetsume, sliding the blade back into its sheath with a clean click.
He turned to Lys, voice quieter now.
"Sorry for all this, Lys. I didn't want anything to happen to us. But now that you have full control over them… they'll never betray you."
Lys exhaled shakily, brushing her hair back.
"I see… it's okay. I understand."
They began walking back—Gaia and Aqua floating behind Lys, calm and majestic at their reduced size.
The Fire Spirit, however, was not so dignified—its form shimmering faintly as it dragged behind them, a glowing leash of mana connecting it to Noah's hand.
As they walked, Lys glanced sideways.
"Um… Noah?"
He glanced at her. "Yeah?"
She hesitated, cheeks flushing again.
"Was it… true? That I'm yours?"
Noah blinked, then gave a faint smile.
"Ah, that… no. It was all part of the act."
"I'd never treat you like that."
Lys looked down, voice barely a whisper.
"I see…"